Montana Trout Scout

OK Lindsay, you asked for it. Lookin' fine and rippin' lips on the 'Stone. Sorry Pat, it had to be done.

Fished Rock Creek for a couple of hours this afternoon. Had good dry fly activity. Mayflies of several kinds and caddis. A #16 yellow parachute worked best. The water is still high, drifts are hard to get. You have to get it right to get the fish. Be patient and look carefully for rising fish. Crossing is a challenge, so be careful. Fun stuff!

The Stilly has picked up a bit. Fish are looking up. Here you go, Pat. Your 15 seconds. Now stop whining.

The Stilly has picked up a bit. Fish are looking up. Here you go, Pat. Your 15 seconds. Now stop whining.

The Stillwater is holding steady at 1800 - 2000 cfs. Fish are finally starting to get on the big dry like they should. Still more stonefly - ish than full on hoppers. A beadhead dropper is also getting eaten. The Yellowstone is fishable but still big and a bit off color. Streamers are your best bet, black and blue or brown and yellow are the best producers. A few fish are ready to eat on top, but not many. There are caddis and yellow sallies up near Big Timber, no bugs to speak of at Columbus. PMD's still have not happened on the Stilly or the Yellowstone. Tomorrow might be the day! Rock Creek is wadable, but very fast. Be careful out there. Drag a small black bugger through the holes and swing it up under the brush for bigger fish. Some small trout are eating an elk hair caddis on top.

Here's a nice Yellowstone brown. We just kept pounding the banks with streamers until something ate it! Nice fish, Keith.

Henry's first fish on a fly rod! Good work. Henry was casting like a pro by the end of the day.

The Stillwater is coming down and the fish are starting to turn on. Dry/droppers with a yellow humpy or madam x and any beadhead are working. The Yellowstone is clearing and fishable. Fishing is still slow. Deep nymphing is your best bet.

Welcome back, Bruce!

Dan showed up today with a vintage fiberglass rod. He told me he bought it in '72 from a trash can sale for $8. I tried to be supportive about it. This rod had a South Bend reel without any descernable drag left on it. No one knows what kind of rod it is because the letters are worn off. I told Dan I would not mention the pink nail polish holding the wrappings together, but he's not here right now. At one point, Dan asked if I had any electric tape on board. Seems a big chunk of the cork had come off the handle. I don't carry electric tape, but I never leave home without duct tape. This is the first time I've ever had to use it on a rod handle. Works quite well. Turns out, Dan can cast that rod better than most can use a Winston. Here's a nice brown that came to his fly. (Dobber, Kory!)